Cushion Fleabane (Erigeron poliospermus var. poliospermus)

“The name Fleabane was applied to this plant because there was a popular belief among country people that the flowers possessed some objectionable features that caused undesirable insects to give it a wide berth. Accordingly the flowers were gathered and hung over the windows and doors, or they were dried and coarsely powdered and scattered about infected places in the house. Sometimes when the insects became too persistent, a few of the dried flowers were burned in the rooms so that the smoke would drive them away.” F.W. Stack Wildflowers Every Child Should Know (1909).